Pu Er and Aged Tea

Though still very uncommon, aging black tea is slowly picking up as a trend. When we consider the depth 8 years of Taiwanese storage has given this tea it must me a good thing.

Our tea packs contain a selection from our bestselling teas.  Inside: each tea is vacuum packed to retain freshness and to assure authenticity.  Outside: the box is covered with all the information you need on the tea’s origin, the producer profile, a taste description plus the tea's levels of antioxidants and caffeine. 

Originating from ecological plantations (Sheng Tai), this shou Pu Er was compressed in the traditional form of the bird's nest (tuo cha). Its liquor, opaque and deep, has a dense and silky texture, enhanced with classic notes of damp undergrowth and roots (licorice). Subtle aerial nuances of incense and oat flowers confer lightness and softness to well-rooted tea. An entry-level aged tea of excellent quality.

Pressed into small 5 gram nests (tuo) For easy preparation, this PuEr harvested in 2011 around the Bulang mountains was produced and stored in Menghai by Vesper Chan. This ideal portion for brewing in teapot, gaiwan, or in your favorite mug at the office, makes this tea perfect for lovers of simplicity.

Here is a 357g cake with the trademark ideogram for the tea in yellow, produced in the Menghai factory from grade 7 leaves, i.e. large leaves. Rinsing releases warm forest, cereal (oat) and fruity fragrances. Its liquor, opaque and supple, boasts a sweet and tangy density evoking molasses or dry fruits (dates). Fine milky and pepper accents enhance the character of this Shou Pu Er with typical deep, rooty notes.

This loose leaf Shou Pu Er consists of medium-sized leaves from ecological plantations at 1600m in the Lincang region (China) was produced following  international organic certification standards. Its liquor, brick-coloured and crystalline, reveals its mineral character with aromas of undergrowth and camphor resins. Marine (algae) and cereal (oats)nuances complement the aromatic profile of this silky, easy to drink, tea.

This Shou Pu Er produced by the Haiwan factory, Yunnan, is composed of leaves of medium size compressed into a disc of 357 grams. Upon wetting, it exhales fragrances evoking toasted cereal and forest floor. The infusion reveals a dense, creamy liquid, almost black, and an especially comforting character. Its sweet taste is accompanied by aromas of malt, barley sugar and exotic woods to a soft and subtly fruity finish. Very generous re-infusions.

Created with the expertise of the great factories of the late 20th century, this shu pu er is identified with the tea character "cha" in orange print. The aromas of leather, stone and damp wood emerge from the rinsing of the leaves. Its brown liquor is crystalline and softly deploys its sweet mineral flavors, evoking the purity of a spring water! Incense and candied fruit nuances enhance this balanced and refreshing tea.

This very respectable shou Pu Er is offered here in carefully broken pieces of the original cake, a relatively affordable formula when compared to the price of whole cakes of this age. Its liquor is dense and milky, even after two rinses (as is often recommended for these antiques). The sweetness of its attack is accompanied by earthy and woody notes (typical of very old shou) softened by the many years spent in storage. The tea also sports pleasant nuances of fruits and flowers alongside that of camphor. Like an old book read with care and respect, this tea is to be savored with wisdom. 

A young Pu Er with surprising fruity, floral and camphorous aromas. Produced from century old trees in Mr. Mei's garden, this lot will remind some of Chinese green tea, but also reveal an exceptional aromatic intensity and length. Its generous texture, full of honey, flowers and wild herbs, is fully appreciated on multiple infusions. 

A young Pu Er tea selected deep in the Yongde forest (Lincang) central Yunnan.

This 200g tea cake, signed with out logo, has been entirely made with leaves from Mengsong moutain in Bulang Shan. This fine harvest results in an intensively herbaceous infusion with flavors both bitter and exquisitely sweet. Floral notes abound from beginning to end, escorted throughout by a gourmet presence evoking almond paste. A tea as powerful as it is fine, offering an unusual persistence.

This is our second 200 gram cake of  compressed maocha from a village on the flanks of the Nanmei valley (Lincang, Yunnan). The infusion releases rich notes of spices, animal (musk) and floral scents, and its bright golden liquor boldly asserts its vegetal character, typical of young Pu Er. It also has a plump and chalky texture, supported by accents of apricot and wood. A tea to appreciate as it changes with the passage of time!

This 100-gram cake was produced from a blend of large orange tinted brown leaves and long buds from 800 year old wild tea trees on Bada mountain. The liquor obtained is light and vegetal, nuanced by notes of softwood fire and spices (camphor). Its long finish is refreshingly citrusy!

This Sheng Pu Er, carefully preserved in Hong Kong, has spent two years in wet storage before continuing its maturation in dryer conditions. Its dark and woody liquor bears the mark of these environments, as shown by its roots (beet), lichen and fennel aromas. Its texture is smooth with light and sweet flavors. This Pu Er is both ready to drink now and perfect to set aside for further maturation. A great addition to any collection.

From the famous Yiwu terroir (Yunnan), this young Pu Er is initially surprising for the amber tint of its liquor. On the palate, it unfolds slowly and offers vegetal (nettle), fruity and spicy (vanilla) nuances. Long and sweet, its camphor finish plunges us into the heart of a coniferous forest.